In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London

Vinegar Valentines For Bad Tradesmen

July 7, 2015

by the gentle author

This second selection from Mike Henbrey‘s extraordinary personal collection of mocking Valentines illustrates the range of tradespeople singled out for hate mail in the Victorian era. Nowadays we despise, Traffic Wardens, Estate Agents, Bankers, Cowboy Builders and Dodgy Plumbers but in the nineteenth century, judging from this collection, Bricklayers, Piemen, Postmen, Drunken Policemen and Cobblers were singled out for vitriol.

The images in the collection of Mike Henbrey are historically significant .

Why is the working class seen to be sub – human and the butt of derision ?
The satirical drawings of Daumier and Hogarth do not debase workers .
There is a respect for humanity in much of their work .
All of society is in their focus and this is how it should be .

I see no humanity in these illustrations .
The working class of 2015 is being reduced to this awfulness by the Tories and
their masters .

A question; does any one see something a bit odd in the several black noses shown? Could this be an illusion to syphilis which attacks and destroys the nose? Particularly the trunk maker, that is not a normal nose.

Fun fact. Sailors were not bow legged nor did they splay their legs for balance. According to THE FLOATING BROTHEL by Sian Rees, sailors walked with legs akimbo because their breeches, washed in sea water, irritated their inner thighs. Therefore a rainy day was also a blessed wash day.

Many thanks for the marvelous and inspiring info on Spitalfields
Peggy

Copyright

Unauthorized use or duplication of these words and pictures without written permission is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Spitalfields Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Spitalfields Life is nourished by a weekly vegetable box from Leila's Shop in Calvert Avenue.